Bolivia agrees to pay Pan American $357 mln for asset seize in 2009

LA PAZ Dec 18 (Reuters) - Bolivia signed an agreement on
Thursday to pay Argentina-based Pan American Energy $357 million
in compensation for the 2009 nationalization of a subsidiary, a
senior government official said.

The deal falls short of the $1.49 billion first demanded by
Pan American in 2010. Bolivia seized control of natural gas
producer Chaco from Pan American after talks over a share
transfer broke down.

"Today an agreement was signed for $357 million, including a
cash payment of $324 million, which means we are only paying 21
percent of the amount sought by Pan American Energy," said the
Andean nation's attorney general, Hector Arce.